Today’s Opportunity To Grow Toward Christ-Optimism

JOHN SHIRK – Optimism sees the favorable side of events or conditions. Optimism also anticipates the best possible outcome.

Winston Churchill described the difference between a pessimist and optimist this way: The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.

Based on this description, we can be motivated by the optimism of Paul’s faith in the Bible, which propelled him forward in God’s plan. In Second Corinthians 4:8, he said, “we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted; but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” As we can see from Paul’s statement, optimism does not mean that we deny reality. However, we do view reality through the lens of God’s effective grace being our source of strength in the midst of life’s difficulties.

Paul also had an optimistic view of the future. In verse 16 of the same chapter, he said, “Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly, we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that outweighs them all.”

Optimism is a character quality that enables us to represent Jesus in the world today.